Nissan’s mid-sized family rocket, the 2010 Altima, is one of the few family sedans that can actually provide you with a thrill or two as you ease on down the road to take the kids to school. With nimble handling, decent steering and brisk acceleration even in base models, the Altima provides you with little reason to feel bored behind the wheel. The bottom line is that the viability and freshness of the Altima is still all there, in the midst of newer models from other car makers coming on the market regularly. Things get even better if you order the 3.5 SR sports package like the one that came with our tester. The 3.5 SR sport package provides you with front and rear stabilizer bars, the 3.5 liter, 270 horsepower V-6, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, fog lights, Xenon headlights, dual zone  automatic temperature control system and a sunroof.  If you get the technology package, you get a hard-drive navigation system, real-time traffic and weather updates, Bluetooth, streaming audio and digital music storage. Our test car had a base price of $24,520, and ordering the SR sport package brings the price, with destination chargers, to $27,785.00. The one sensation that comes through loud and clear with your first time behind the wheel is the roominess of the car, and also the sensation that this really is a large automobile. Hitting the start button brings instant low rumbles, a delicious sound, indeed--to your ears. Acceleration is pretty quick and instantaneous, so you won’t get into any jams on the highway. In spite of that, the Altima 3.5 SR has its strong practical side. Fuel mileage is 20/27, and the car also has absolutely perfect five star government safety ratings, too.  Annual estimated fuel cost isi $1,696 based on $15,000 miles of driving at $2.60 cents per gallon. Standard equipment is generous, including continuously variable transmission, full power accessories,  anti-lock brakes, roof mounted curtain air bags, traction control and stability control, and a host of other features. If there’s a problem with the Altima at all, it’s the size of the back seat which feels a bit small, but still nothing that’s a deal breaker. All told, the Altima remains a pretty persuasive deal for car buyers, who want  family practicality, safety, and heaping helping of driving fun, too.